India coach Anil Kumble told the media that the team management had not asked for a replacement for Ishant Sharma
India fast bowler Ishant Sharma has been ruled out of the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, which starts on September 22, because he is recovering from chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral infection.
Anil Kumble, the India coach, said the team management had not asked for a replacement for Ishant. In Ishant's absence, India have pace options in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav.
Ishant's illness is the first fitness concern that a full-strength India side have faced in the lead-up to the Test series. New Zealand, on the other hand, have had a couple of issues. On Monday, coach Mike Hesson announced that allrounder James Neesham would miss the Kanpur Test, due to a rib injury he had suffered during a net session. Last week, fast bowler Tim Southee was ruled out of the three-match series due to an ankle ligament strain and returned to New Zealand. Southee is expected to return to India for the ODI series.
Ishant has played 72 Tests for India taking 209 wickets at an average of 36.71. On the recent tour of the West Indies, Ishant took eight wickets in four Tests at an average of 32.12, and his best match figures on the tour were 3 for 70 in the third Test in St Lucia.
